Sri Lanka Cricket’s Chief Selector Graeme Labrooy has proven again and again that he doesn’t know anything about Selection! An ICC Match Referee by profession, one year ago former Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) President brought him as a part time Chief selector, though that was enough for him to destroy the Sri Lanka Set Up at every level. Regarded as the first ever ‘Skype Selector‘ in history of the game, In national squads, he brought Sachith Pathirana, Chaturnaga De Silva, Jeevan Mendis from Nowhere. In U19 Squads, he himself went to New Zealand and brought Santush Gunathilika into World Cup playing eleven by discarding Sri Lanka’s best U19 player Hasitha Boyagoda.
Now, Labrooy has shifted his focus on Emerging Squad and in his first attempt itself, he managed to stamp his authority of destroying things!
In World Cricket, Emerging Team’s consists players from U23 set up. The idea behind this is to identify upcoming talents and to test them whether they are ready to step up to next level.
Graeme Labrooy, though have selected Kaushal Silva, Malinda Pushpkumara and Madawa Warnapura into the Emerging Team to play a home series against South Africa!
32 year old Kaushal Silva has played 37 Tests for Sri Lanka. He Was the preferred opener for Sri Lanka under Legendary Sanath Jayasuriya regime as a Chief Selector, before Sri Lanka found more aggressive Kusal Mendis as an opening option. Now, as Mendis has established himself as a long term test opener, Silva’s chances are very slim to make a comeback at the age of 32.
Malinda Pushpkumara, 31 year old, has played only two tests for Sri Lanka so far, even though he has more than 500 First-Class Wickets to his name.
Madawa Warnapura selection is the most surprising though. A right-hand batsman, he made his First-Class debut way back in 2009, but was ever in the line of a national recall. Now, at the age of 30, with a FC Average of 35, even he has probably given the hope to play for the National team.
The selection of Dilesh Gunaratne is simply an influential inclusion, as he plays for Colombo Cricket Club. The president of the club is SLC former treasurer Shammi Silva, who is the right hand of former President board Thilanga Sumathipala.
However, regardless of the scenario, Labrooy have gathered all of them to play for Emerging team.
“Mr. Labrooy is short-sighted. these selection proves yet again, he has no vision, no long term plan for any squad : be it National side, U19 or Emerging Side. He is simply messing up everything” a former player told Cricket Age.
